That's the idea behind the nearly full-page ad above for the well-remembered Economy Sales stores, which ran in the Journal back on November 4, 1964. The ad is nicely divided between toys and gifts for adults.
Economy Sales was the Amazon of its time. It carried a wide selection of items and each store was like a little warehouse. You perused the showroom, decided on your purchase, filled out a little card and submitted it. Then, a few minutes later, your selection came chugging out from the back on a little conveyor belt.
(I've written about Economy Sales several times.)
At the time of the 1964 ad, the Oberlin Avenue location wasn't open yet. It wouldn't hold its Grand Opening until November 1965. So the Lorain store was still out in South Lorain, in the former Lorain Street Railway car barn.
7 comments:
We got a vacu form for Christmas it probably was in the mid sixties. What a crazy contraption to give to a kid. Heat up a machine to about 5000 degrees and place a piece of plastic inside. I remember it being very hot and smelly. Definitely would not fly today. Wondering if my mom bought it at economy sales? I remember going there with her when it was on 28th street. Todd
My brother and I got the Creeple Peeple And Creepy Crawler VacuForms sets. Back then you were told maybe once, how to safely play with something, then you were on your own and expected to - not be an idiot and get hurt. I have a fond memory of waiting in the back seat of our station wagon, no seat belts, in hot August day, at the 28th St Economy Sales store. My parents emerged with - no, not the coveted Barbie doll, too sexy - but her friend Midge, for my birthday in about 1964. Loved going with mom and dad to that store.
I have two thoughts on today's post. First, how crazy expensive small kitchen appliances were 60 years ago. It was truly a privilege to own a kitchen full of today's basic gadgets. I don't want to get the political fanatics going, but some things are best left to China/Mexico to produce for us. Second, in today's world, it would be bad advice to suggest an iron for your wife for Christmas.
We had the Crazy Clock Game, a poor cousin of "Mouse Trap," perhaps? We never actually played the game, we just put it together and tried to make it work. The rich kid down the street had one of those Za-Zoom things on his bike. We made do with playing cards in the spokes.
An iron for Christmas. Yeah. A bad idea now. Probably was then, too.
I wanted a Vac-U-Form, because my cousin Diane got one, but my mom said no, too dangerous.
Check out that gun that shoots around a corner.The libs of today would have a fit over something like this.
No, we wouldn't.
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